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As a political writer, Axelrod covered Harold Washington's run to become the first black mayor of Chicago in 1983; four years later, he worked on Washington's successful reelection effort. He was part of Deval Patrick's successful 2006 campaign to become the first black governor of Massachusetts. Today, Patrick stumps for Obama.
At one point or another, Axelrod worked for five of the eight candidates for 2008 Democratic nominee. He was part of John Edwards' White House bid four years ago, and he helped get Tom Vilsack elected -- and reelected -- as the first Democratic governor of Iowa in 30 years. He has worked for Clinton and Connecticut Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, both of whom -- along with Edwards, Obama and Clinton's husband -- have returned the favor, pitching in for a cause close to Axelrod's heart: raising money for an epilepsy cure.
Axelrod's daughter Lauren, who is in her mid-20s, lives in a group home because of brain damage sustained in a lifetime of seizures. A decade ago, his wife, Susan, helped found Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy. Axelrod is an honorary member of CURE's advisory board.
On Feb. 29, five days before voters in Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont go to the polls to distribute a total of 444 delegates, he will be honored by CURE at its 10th annual benefit in Chicago "for giving voice to the over 3 million Americans suffering from epilepsy."
That is Axelrod's softer side. In politics, he can have a harder edge.
"In this town, when he did Harold Washington, he could very much throw a punch back politically at Harold Washington's opponents," said Bill Daley, part of Chicago's political first family and a longtime friend.
"There was a lot of tension, a lot of back-and-forth," Daley said. "David was very good at negative commercials. But David understands that this campaign is not about that, and Barack Obama is not that candidate."
The Obama staff is reluctant to divulge details of how the campaign operates day to day.
But longtime Axelrod friends and colleagues are quick to point where they see the strategist's hand in Obama's effort.
Chicago political consultant Don Rose describes his former protege as "a bright guy, knows politics, can write a good sentence with a subject, an object and a verb."
Rose is sure that Axelrod was the brains behind one of Obama's best lines.
During a heated debate in New Hampshire, Clinton slammed Obama for raising "false hopes" in the American electorate with his message of hope and change.
The next day, Obama shot back in a riff that he still uses. It usually ends something like this, a version delivered at Stevens High School in Claremont, N.H.:
"What does that mean, false hopes?" he asked, incredulous. "How have we made progress in this country?
"Did John F. Kennedy look at the moon and say, 'Ah, thought so, too far. Reality check. Can't do it'?
"Dr. King standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, looking out over that magnificent crowd, the reflecting pool, the Washington Monument. 'Sorry guys. False hope. This dream thing is a false hope. We can't expect equality.'
"False hopes," he snorted, and the crowd went wild.
Axelrod does take credit for the speech Obama delivered in 2006 at the Gridiron Club dinner, an annual send-up of politics and journalism by the very people who make that world run.
Standing not far from Dick Cheney -- who had accidentally shot a lawyer friend on a hunting trip -- Obama told the vice president, "I know you came here expecting to be a target, which, it turns out, may prove easier for you than shooting at one."
Then he thanked the Democratic nemesis, saying: "For years we Democrats have succeeded in doing little more than shooting ourselves in the foot. You taught us a valuable lesson: Aim higher."
In his next life, Axelrod acknowledged to a friend over drinks that night, he might like to be a joke writer. For now, however, he is keeping his day job.
maria.laganga@latimes.com
At one point or another, Axelrod worked for five of the eight candidates for 2008 Democratic nominee. He was part of John Edwards' White House bid four years ago, and he helped get Tom Vilsack elected -- and reelected -- as the first Democratic governor of Iowa in 30 years. He has worked for Clinton and Connecticut Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, both of whom -- along with Edwards, Obama and Clinton's husband -- have returned the favor, pitching in for a cause close to Axelrod's heart: raising money for an epilepsy cure.
Axelrod's daughter Lauren, who is in her mid-20s, lives in a group home because of brain damage sustained in a lifetime of seizures. A decade ago, his wife, Susan, helped found Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy. Axelrod is an honorary member of CURE's advisory board.
On Feb. 29, five days before voters in Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont go to the polls to distribute a total of 444 delegates, he will be honored by CURE at its 10th annual benefit in Chicago "for giving voice to the over 3 million Americans suffering from epilepsy."
That is Axelrod's softer side. In politics, he can have a harder edge.
"In this town, when he did Harold Washington, he could very much throw a punch back politically at Harold Washington's opponents," said Bill Daley, part of Chicago's political first family and a longtime friend.
"There was a lot of tension, a lot of back-and-forth," Daley said. "David was very good at negative commercials. But David understands that this campaign is not about that, and Barack Obama is not that candidate."
The Obama staff is reluctant to divulge details of how the campaign operates day to day.
But longtime Axelrod friends and colleagues are quick to point where they see the strategist's hand in Obama's effort.
Chicago political consultant Don Rose describes his former protege as "a bright guy, knows politics, can write a good sentence with a subject, an object and a verb."
Rose is sure that Axelrod was the brains behind one of Obama's best lines.
During a heated debate in New Hampshire, Clinton slammed Obama for raising "false hopes" in the American electorate with his message of hope and change.
The next day, Obama shot back in a riff that he still uses. It usually ends something like this, a version delivered at Stevens High School in Claremont, N.H.:
"What does that mean, false hopes?" he asked, incredulous. "How have we made progress in this country?
"Did John F. Kennedy look at the moon and say, 'Ah, thought so, too far. Reality check. Can't do it'?
"Dr. King standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, looking out over that magnificent crowd, the reflecting pool, the Washington Monument. 'Sorry guys. False hope. This dream thing is a false hope. We can't expect equality.'
"False hopes," he snorted, and the crowd went wild.
Axelrod does take credit for the speech Obama delivered in 2006 at the Gridiron Club dinner, an annual send-up of politics and journalism by the very people who make that world run.
Standing not far from Dick Cheney -- who had accidentally shot a lawyer friend on a hunting trip -- Obama told the vice president, "I know you came here expecting to be a target, which, it turns out, may prove easier for you than shooting at one."
Then he thanked the Democratic nemesis, saying: "For years we Democrats have succeeded in doing little more than shooting ourselves in the foot. You taught us a valuable lesson: Aim higher."
In his next life, Axelrod acknowledged to a friend over drinks that night, he might like to be a joke writer. For now, however, he is keeping his day job.
maria.laganga@latimes.com
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